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Test Drive Impressions and Feedback for the Tesla Generals

Test Drive Impressions and Feedback for the Tesla Generals

Submitted by purrpleh on Sat, 2012-08-18 12:38

TESLA DANIA BEACH FLORIDA FIRST IMPRESSIONS:

I am a reservation and stockholder holder and have been on the online Tesla journey for 2 1/2 years. I believe strongly in this company and drove RT 440 miles from Orlando for my test drive:

I drove the brown 85kw non performance model. Exterior fit and finish was very impressive, In my excitement, I forgot to ask whether the paint was metallic.

TEST AREA: combined local, boulevard, and small stretches of highway with an option to get on I95 for one exit.

Ride: The showroom is in an industrial area and the road is rather bumpy. The air shocks and low profile 21" silver rims handled the bumps surprisingly well. The tires did not feel like rocks. Well Done Tesla.
Performance: Like many others...just great, the G-forces kick in and the car pulls its substantial weight extremely well. I was doing 79mph in a heartbeat and most importantly, the brakes are performers. No nose dive or squeal...just a prompt safe stop. The low center of gravity is all that is published. S bends were amazingly smooth, I was leaning more than the car.

Overall: Tesla has lived up to its claims, the car is everything I thought it would be.

Two areas of concern:
1. I believe Tesla has to rethink interior finishes. Not everyone wants Black and Gray. The tan leather is wonderful, but the dark interior finishes attract heat. Tesla needs to add ONE lighter colored option to address buyer tastes and the heat element for hot or warm climates. At first impression the non leather finishes look plastic-like and don't appear to meet the standard of a car in that price range. I think this is an area for improvement.
2. I intend to buy the 60kw battery model. Pricing appears to revolve around range, which makes sense...BUT, there should be more appeal in the mid range by adding a performance inverter option...perhaps 0-60 in 5.0 seconds, combine it with the 21" wheels and air shocks. Tesla's success in selling the Model S will come in this and the lower range battery. Not everyone has 84k+ to spend. I pose this as a question for the engineers, marketers and bean counters.

I am anxious to hear from others who have test driven the car.

jun.baton |
18/08/2012

Just came back from my test drive of the Model S.

It's like upgrading from the old trackball mouse to an optical mouse. Smooth, responsive, precise handling, accurate. Car felt like an extension of myself. It did exactly what I asked it to do.

Larry Chanin |
18/08/2012

@purrpleh

...there should be more appeal in the mid range by adding a performance inverter option...perhaps 0-60 in 5.0 seconds, combine it with the 21" wheels and air shocks. Tesla's success in selling the Model S will come in this and the lower range battery. Not everyone has 84k+ to spend. I pose this as a question for the engineers, marketers and bean counters.

As I understand it, although the power electronic and cabling have to be upgraded to handle the increased current, what determines the acceleration is the amount of energy that can be delivered in a short time to the motor. To deliver that much energy simply requires a larger battery. There's no way around this fundamental fact.

Larry

Larry Chanin |
18/08/2012

@purrpleh

By the way, if you are interested in joining our Florida Tesla Motors Club, please email be at lfchanin@verizon.net.

Larry

Koz |
18/08/2012

At around 5C for short bursts for the 60kwh pack to achieve high performance, I doubt it is a cell limitation.

yiujeffrey |
19/08/2012

May I know from who had test drived the car, is there a place for holding coins? I just don't see one on the photos. it only show the cup holders.

beside the coins, I wish it have a place for drivers to keep a smart card. some of the parking I use required smart card to enter.

jerry3 |
19/08/2012

So far there is not. Tesla says they are working on it.

Michael23 |
19/08/2012

There is a pouch in front of the seat. I think I'll store my cards there probably.

Rathjebaxter |
19/08/2012

I did my test drive last thursday here in Austin and loved it. Drove a blue non-performance and it had plenty of performance for me. My wife and I really liked the fit and finsih of the interior as well as the exterior. Curious though that it had a white interiro which doesnt show as an option for a non-sig car.

Ron_S |
19/08/2012

I could not make it to the AMPED events.
When will the dealers have cars to test drive ?
Which dealers will be first ?

BYT |
19/08/2012

I was told the end of September

art |
19/08/2012

Is there a Tesla car club in Chicago? If so how do I join?
Anyone in chicago get a car yet? I was promised October. Cannt
wait. The test drive was amazing.

Andrew18 |
22/08/2012

@art-I am Chicago area signature- you as well or an early production?

olanmills |
24/08/2012

"It's like upgrading from the old trackball mouse to an optical mouse. Smooth, responsive, precise handling, accurate. Car felt like an extension of myself. It did exactly what I asked it to do."
jun.baton

Wow, I especially like this characterization. I think this is an awesome way to describe it.

Heading into the overanalysis deptartment:

I think it's a good characterization because the experience of driving the car is fundamentally the same as the older technology -the aim of the technology is the same -translate your hand movements to the cursor or carry you comfortably from point A to point B. It's just that some of the clunky mechanical technology has been replaced by higher-tech hardware and smarter software.

Of course the analogy will break down some as there will undoubtedly be lots of people who will still prefer ICE cars, or at least some aspects of ICE cars, for a variety of good reasons. I don't really think that's the case with the computer mouse.

olanmills |
24/08/2012

@Ron_S I think people have been hearing that there will be test drives available from local stores by the end of October, but we have no confirmed details about that.